Railroad-tie.



C. HARBAUGH 6L CIC. BROSIUS.

RAILROAD TIE.

`APPLICATION FILED 1AN.23. 1915.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

CHARLES HARBAUGI- AND CLARENCE C. BROSIS, OF J OHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILRoAD-TVIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.v

Application fledanuary 23, 1915. Serial No. 3,986.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES HiinAUGr-r and CLARENCE C. Bnosrus, citizens of the TUnited States, residing at Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsyl-` railroad ties, and means associated therewith for fastening a rail in position.

One of the objects of the invention is to Vprovide a resilient metal tie to provide the qualities inherent in wood ties.

, A urtherobject of ourinvention is to provide a simple and inexpensive metal tie having means for resisting lateral movement of the rails. v

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and durable means for holding the' rails in conjunction with a resilient metal tie.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter pointed out and particularly referred to in the claims.

In the accompanying drawingz-Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 represents views of the two clamp members.V Fig. 3` `is a detail longitudinal section of the tie, and the rail in position. Fig. 4l is a cross section through one of the members on the line -m of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view oli a slightly different form ofthe invention.

1 indicates a'metal tieV which is substantially flat and of suitable thickness, the opposite ends being inclined downwardly and outwardly, as shown at 2,. to provide a convenient means for anchoring the tie. adjacent ends of the `tie are oli'set portions 3, and in the upper surfaces of these otl'set portions are depressions Ll, to receive the rails 5.

-The means employed to clamp the rails comprise two coperating members 8 and 9, similarly constructed; consequently but one will be described.

Each member comprises an upper plate 10, formed on its inner free end witha flange 11, which corresponds to the contour or the Near side of the rail, and fits snugly thereagainst as shownin the drawing. The liangeV 11, extends below-the plane ofthe bottom surface of the upper plate 10, as shown at 12, and engages one of the side walls 13, of the depression el, which prevents the clamp i membermoiv'ing laterally in a direction away from the adjacent side of theirail.

Extending laterally and downwardly from the side of the top plate 10, is a vertical-connecting portion or side plate 15, and extending inwardly therefrom, parallel to the upper plate 10, and engaging the under surface of the tie 1, is a bottom plate 16. The upper and lower plates 10 and 16, and

the side plate 15, embrace the upper and ylower surfaces, and one side of the tie when the parts are assembled. In the upper and lower plates 10 and 16, are alined bolt openings 18, and in the tie are corresponding openings 18, which may be slightly elongated, and through these openings pass bolts 20, to clamp the member to the tie. Extending laterally through the flange 11, on the end of the'member, are openings 21, which are in alinement with similar openings 21a, formed in the ends of the rails, and through these openings extend transverse bolts 22, which lock the members in operative position.

When the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. `1, the depending flange portions 12, on the respective members 8 and 9, engage the opposite walls 13, of the depressions Ll, formed in the tie, and the respective side plates 15, of the two members engage oppo- Vsite side edges of the tie, on opposite sides of the rails, which with the bolts, effectually prevent longitudinal displacement of the members withrei'erence to the tie and the rails. In addition to Vthis clamping action ofthe bolts 20, the bolts 12,'which pass through the flanges 11, and the rails, lock the' rails to the members 8 and 9, Vso that by the construction shown and described, lateral or end play of the rails is absolutely of the parts, once the bolts are tightened, is

absolutely prohibited.

By constructing the members 8 and 9 to engage opposite edges of the tie, on opposite sides of a rail, an important result is accomplished;vthat is to say, if the bolts should become worn and break off, and the members Slip on the tie, they will tend to bind between the rail and the walls 13, of the depressions, hence the ends of the rails will be held together.

The relative thickness of the tie and its Y length, renders the tie substantially resilient,

consequently thev pounding of the rolling stock on the rails is relieved by the tie yield-V ing, which'constitutes one of the essential features of a tie of wooden construction.

,Y Of'course, it is to be understood that the respectiveparts are so fitted as to-provide for expansion and contraction, and that the length of the tie, andthe fact that it is substantially flat throughout its length between the rails, affords a convenient means for adding resiliency to the structure.

ln F ig. 5, the flat tie is' formed with depending flanges 30, to strengthenthe structure.

Vhat we claim is 1. The combination of a metal tie formed with depressions near its ends, rail clamps comprising two members, each member comprising a flanged end which engages. the outer surfaces of a rail, the bottom of the flange engaging a wall of the depression'in the tie, each member having an upper and lower. plate connected by an end portion to embrace the upper and lower surfaces of the tie, and bolts for securing the clamps to the tie. y

The combination of a flat metal railroad tie formed with depressions near its ends, two clamp members, each of whichis formed with end flanges which engage the sides of the rails and which are formed with openings, bolts extending through the openings to clamp the rails, each member having an upper plate and a lower plate connected at one., side with an end plate, the end plates of the two members being disposed on oppositesides of the tie on opposite sides of the rail, and bolts passing through the members to securesame to the tie. Y

3.* Thefcombination of a metal tieformed with-depending portions, the upper surfaces lof the depending portions having depressions, rail *clampsl comprising two members, each member having` portions which engage K the sideof rails and one wall of a depression,

eachwsaidmember havinga plate engaging the under surface of the tie and abutting against the wall of one ofthe depending portions. Y

t. rlhe combination ofV a'metal tie formed with depressions and ldepending y portions below the depressions, rail clamps comprising two 1nembers each member comprising a flanged Vend which engages the outer surf face of a rail, the bottom of the Vflange engaging a wall of the" depression in the. tie, each member having an upper and lower plate connected by an end. portion to` em- K. brace the upper andlower surfaces of the p.

tie, the lower plates of adjacent clamp members engaging the outer walls of the depend` mg portion below thedepressions, and bolts 4for securing the members together.`

5. The combination of a metal tie formed with depressions and depending portions below `the depressions, #rail 'clamps comprising two members, each member comprisinga flanged end which engages the outer surface of a rail, the bottom of the flange engaging a wall of the depression in the tie, eacn member having an upper and lower iplate connected by an end portion to embrace the upper and lower surfacesof the tie, the end portions of the two clamp members being disposed on opposite sides ofthe tie on opposite sides of the rail and embracing the edges of the tie, the lower platesof adjacent clamp members engaging the outer walls of the depending portion below the depression, and bolts forsecuring the members together. 6. The combination of a metal tie having depending portions near its ends, the upper Copiesof this patent may beolitained forV five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C.` Y

tions, and means for securing the clamps'to 1 

